Plastic-block-cutting machine



H. R. STRAIGHT.

PLASTIC BLOCK CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT-7.1918.

1,3323693. Patented Ma1'.2,.1920.

HEETS-SHEET I.

f/wevzfor mm 655 A4 fi H. R. STRAIGHT.

PLASTIC BLOCK CUTTING MACHINE.

AP\PLICAT|0N FILED OCT- 1. 1918.

' 1,332,693. I Patented Mar. 2,1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- WiT/Zifi [72 0672 tar H. R. STRAIGHT.

PLASTIC BLOCK CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT-7,1918- Patented Mar. 2, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3 EINITED STATES PATEN T OFFICE.

HALVER R. STRAIGHT, 0F ADEL, IOWA.

PLASTIC-BLOCK-CUTTING MACHINE.

Application filed. October 7, 1918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HALVER R. STRAIGHT, a citizen of the Unit-ed States, and a resident of Adel, in the county of Dallas and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Plastic-Block-Outting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a machine'for cutting plastic blocks.

More particularly it is my object to provide such a machine having special mechanism, whereby plastic material may be made to travel on a curved path, and whereby blocks may be cut from the body of the material at such angles that the blocks will be adapted to be used in building circular structures.

A further object is to provide simple and inexpensive mechanism whereby the blocks may be automatically cut at the proper times.

lVith these and other objects in view my invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a side elevation of a machine embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 shows a top or plan view of the same.

Fig. 3 shows a vertical, transverse. sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig, 4 shows a top or plan view of part of the cutting carriage mechanism, parts being omitted for more clearly illustrating the members shown. I

5 shows a view partly in section and partly in elevation taken on the line 55 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a detail. sectional view of a portion of the cam slot or guide.

Fig. 7 is a detail, sectional view taken on the line 77 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 shows a detail view of part of the gearing mechanism; and

Fig. 9 shows a detail view of part of the cutting; mechanism.

In the illustration of my invention shown in the accompanying; drawings I have used the reference numeral. 10 to indicate generall the base upon which my improved plastic block cutting machine is supported. The base has the upright members 11 suit- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 2, 1920.

Serial No. 257,293.

ably located for affording longitudinally arranged frame members 12. Supported at the lower portion of the machine is a power shaft-13 and a short shaft 14: arranged at right angles thereto. On the shaft 13 is a beveled gear '15 in mesh with a beveled gear 16 on the shaft 14.

Suitably supported is an endless conveyer comprising transverse slats 17. Mounted on the slats is a sprocket chain comprising a series of links 18 secured to the respective slats 17 and designed to travel on sprocket wheels, hereinafter referred to. Connected with each link is a laterally extending spindle 19 on which is a roller 20. Adjacent to the outeredges of the upper stretch of the endless conveyer are tracks 21 on which the rollers 20 travel for supporting the weight of the slats 17 and the load of plastic material thereon.

At what I shall call the rearward end of the machine is mounted a transverse shaft 22 on one end of which is a gear 23 in line with a gear 24 on the shaft 14. A chain 25 travels on the gears 23 and 24:. On the gear 23 is formed a friction clutch member 26. The gear 23 is loosely mounted on the shaft 22. On said shaft 22 is fixed a coacting clutch member 27. The clutch member 26 is held in yielding engagement with the clutch member 27 by means of a spring 28. The spring 28 is engaged by a collar 29 which may be adj ustably locked in position on the shaft 22 by a set-screw 30.

On the shaft 22 are sprockets 31 on which the chain having the links 18 travel.

At the forward ends of the machine is mounted a shaft 31 on which are sprockets 32 for supporting the forward end of the endless conveyer.

Projecting forwardly from the forward end of the machine are frame members 33 which support a platform 34 in proper position for receiving plastic material discharged from the endless conveyer members 17.

On each side of the machine on the frame members 33 are formed tracks 35. There is provided a carriage comprising opposite The first carriage I have indicated generally, as in F 1g. 4, by the reference character A. A second carriage B is provided Supported by the carriage B is the lower.

arm 41 of a U-shaped device which carries the cutting wires. On the upper arm 42 of said U-shaped Wire carrying device, is a cross bar 43 having near its ends elongated slots 44 in which are mounted short rods 45 having on one end wing nuts'46 and on their other ends hooks 47 for supporting wires 48.

The opposite ends of the wires may be secured to the frame 39 of the carriage B in any suitable way.

Ordinarily only one wire 48 is used. Two wires are used when it is desired to cut a half block. The wires 48 may be adjusted by adjusting the members 45 in the slots 44 for varying the angle of the cut. I

For imparting the proper motion to the carriages A and B the following mechanisms are provided.

Substantially centrally pivoted near the shaft 22 is a bell crank lever 49, shown in Fig. 1. On one end of the bell crank lever 49 is a roller 50 adapted to coact with a double cam 51 on the shaft 22.

Pivoted to the other end of the bell crank lever 49 is a long bar or link 53 which ex tends forwardly in the machine and is pivoted at its forward end to one of the frame members 36 of the carriage A.'

-A spring 54, secured to the link 53 and to the frame member 12, normally holds the carriage A at its rearward limitof movement.

The cam 51 is so shaped that during the rotation of the shaft 22, the bell crank lever 49 is actuated for moving the carriage A forwardly in the machine.

At certain positions in the rotation of the cam 51 it permits the return of the bell crank lever 49 and the carriage 36 by means of the spring 54.

For moving the carriage B transversely of the machine, by a movement corresponding partly to the movement of the carriage A, the following mechanism is provided.

Mounted in the frame members 36 is-a transverse shaft 55. On the shaft 55 is a sleeve 56, which, by means of a web 57, supports an endless cam guide slot 58, shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6.

Loosely mounted on the shaft 55'adjacent to one end of the sleeve 56, is a gear 59 which meshes with a rack 60, shown in Fig. 1, and supported on the frame member 33.

On the end of the sleeve 56 adj acent'to the gear 59 are oppositely extending arms 61 on which are opposite pins 62.

endless conveyer from a die or the like, the

material travels forwardly on the endless conveyer until the forward end of the material moves on to theplatform 34.

As the shaft 22 rotates, the cam 51 engages the roller 50 on the bell crank lever 49, thereby actuating the bell crank lever and the link 53 for moving the carriage, A toward its forward limit of movement. The parts are so arranged that the movement of the carriage A corresponds in speed to the movement of the plastic material. As the carriage A moves forwardly in the machine, the hook member of the pawl 63 engages one of the pins 62. The .engagement of the gear 59 with the rack 60 causes the gear 59 to rotate, and the pawl 63 causes corresponding rotation of the sleeve 56. As the sleeve 56 in the cam slot" 58 carried thereby rotates, the roller 71 will be forced to travel in the cam slot 58, thereby moving the carriage B transversely in the machine for causing the wire .48 to .cut through the plastic material for severing a block from the body thereof.

Ordinarily one wire'48 only is used and the angle of the cut may be regulated by adjusting the upper end of said wire. Two wires may be usedfor cutting a half block.

When the carriageA has reached its forward position of movement, and the carriage B has correspondingly moved transversely 1n the machine, the cam 51 ceases to operate on the bell crank 49 and permits the spring 54 to draw the carriage A rearwardly in the machine. v

The rearward movement of the carriage A in the machine causes rotation of thegear 59 in an opposite direction from that which it had during its forward movement. The pawl 63 disengages the pin 62 with which it was in engagement during the last described movement-of the carriage B, and the carriage B is not returned to its starting point during the return movement of the carriage A. The arrangement of the parts is such that during the return movement of the carriage A, the pawl 63: is moved to position for engaging the pin 62, so that when the carriage A makes its second movement, the carriage B makes its second transverse movement in the opposite direction from its first movement.

As will be seen from the foregoing description, the construction of my improved cutting mechanism is extremely simple, and the movements are accurate and the parts necessary for the construction of the device are comparatively few and easily made.

Only a minimiun of movements are required for accomplishing the severing of the blocks, or tile, or sections from the main body of the plastic material.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the various parts of my improved machine without departing from the essential purpose and spirit of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a device of the class described, a frame, means for supporting and advancing plastic material on said frame, an auxiliary frame, a carriage supported thereby and adapted to reciprocate in a path substantially parallel with the path of travel of such plastic material, means for intermittently moving said carriage forwardly with a speed corresponding to that of the movement of the plastic material, means for intermittently returning said carriage, a second carriage mounted to reciprocate in a direction transversely of the path of travel of said plastic material, .a cutter device carried by said second carriage, and means for operatively connecting and disconnecting said first carriage and said second car riage during the forward and rearward movement, respectively, of said carriages.

2. In a device of the class described, a frame, means for supporting and advancing plastic material on said frame, an auxiliary frame, a carriage supported thereby and adapted to reciprocate in a path substantially parallel with the path of travel of such plastic material, means for intermittently moving said carriage forwardly with a speed corresponding to that of the movement of the plastic material, means for intermittently returning said carriage, a second carriage mounted to reciprocate in a direction transversely. of the path of travel of said plastic material, a cutter device carried by said second carriage, and means for operatively connecting and disconnecting said first carriage and said second carriage during the forward and rearward movements, respectively, of said carriages, said means including a shaft supported by said first carriage, a gear thereon, a fixed rack in mesh with said gear, coacting means on said shaft and said second carriage,

whereby rotation of said gear in one direc tion imparts sliding movement of said sec ond carriage transversely of the machine.

3. In a device of the class described, a frame, means for supporting and advancing plastic material on said frame, an auxiliary frame, a carriage supported thereby and adapted to reciprocate in a path substan tially parallel with the path of travel of such plastic material, means for intermittently moving said carriage forwardly with a speed corresponding to that of the movement of the plastic material, means for intermittently returning the said carriage, a second carriage mounted to reciprocate in a direction transversely of the path of travel of said plastic material, a cutter device carried by said second carriage, means for operatively connecting and disconnecting said first carriage and said second carriage during the forward and rearward move ments, respectively of said carriages, said means including a shaft supported by said first carriage, a gear thereon, a fixed rack in mesh with said gear, coacting means on said shaft and said second carriage, where by rotation of said gear in'one direction imparts sliding movement of said second carriage transversely of the machine, said means including a clutch device.

4. In a device of the class described, a frame, means for supporting and advancing plastic material on said frame, an auxiliary frame, a carriage supported thereby and adapted to reciprocate in a path substantially parallel with the path of travel of such plastic material, means for intermittently moving said carriage forwardly with a speed corresponding to that of the movement of the plastic material, means for intermittently returning the said carriage, a second carriage mounted to reciprocate in a direction transversely of the path of travel of said plastic material, a cutter device carried by said second carriage, means for operatively connecting and disconnecting said first carriage and said second carriage during the forward and rearward movements, respectively, of said carriages, said means including a shaft supported by said first carriage, a gear thereon, a fixed rack in mesh with said gear, coacting means on said shaft and said second carriage, whereby rotation of said gear in one direction imparts sliding movement of said second carriage transversely of the machine, said means including a clutch device, a cam slot, and a member on said second carriage adapted to travel in said slot.

Des Moines, Iowa, September 16, 1918.

HALVER R. STRAIGHT. 

